Private gaming sector generates 9,500 direct employments and 22,000 indirect ones in Madrid

Hidalgo answered this way to the regional assembly on a question made by popular representative Pedro Muñoz Abrines on the situation of the authorization for betting organization and marketing in Madrid council.

After confirming that five companies have demanded so far the authorization to the regional government for the organization and marketing of bets, she reminded that, up to the moment, just three companies have achieved it (Sportium, Intralot Iberia and Codere Apuestas). On top of that, she announced that in the near future Madrid citizens may be able to enter to this new gambling type by Internet.

"Madrid is the first autonomous community which regulates this new betting type, which brings more legal security to the citizens as well as the companies who wish to participate in this leisure activity", said the council.

Hidalgo added that the regional government has acted in the latest years "to protect those which do not want to participate in this modality and to establish a legal frame which guarantees the legal security, the rights of users, the correct performance of business activities and the new gaming types from different perspectives".

She also remarked that Madrid Council has updated the norm "in order to reduce the paperwork and to bring freedom to businessmen to perform this activity, adapting its business to the claims of a public which is more demanding every day, so they may include innovation, new technologies and new gaming types in their gambling venues.”